Joyce 9 said: "I’m saying ATG, Disney, and Nederlander operate theaters they do not own. ATG doesn’t own the Hudson, Disney doesn’t own the New Amsterdam, Nederlander doesn’t own the Gershwin, Minskoff, or Marquis."
I don't disagree with what you are now saying, but that's not how I understood "they [the church] can always get someone else to operate it, ATG, Nederlander, Disney already do it with other theaters." I thought you were saying that ATG et al got someone else to operate their theatres for them, something I am sure we can agree is not what you meant.
As I believe I've already said, I don't think any of the Broadway landlords would entertain any conceivable deal for the Sullivan that would also appeal to CBS. The cost of making it not only back into a theatre but one that comports with 21st century demands, would be a ton, and that's before even considering the landmark-related litigation that could take years. The New Amsterdam lease (which is with the city and state as landlord) is essentially a ground lease with lots of concessions because the government considered the revitalization of 42nd a major priority. IIRC the "rent" is around $600k a year, an amount that would not get close (adjusted to 2026 $) to what CBS would need to get. [By contrast, the current rent for the M&M store, down the street from the Ed Sullivan, is over $70 million a year, not counting the signage.]
My purpose is not to rain on anyone's fantasy parade as a buzzkill, but what's the point of pretending something is going to be realistic when it is not.
